The nurturing of Florida-based businesses, especially those in the second-stage of development (who historically have the greatest potential for percentage growth in revenue and employment), is the goal behind Florida's Economic Gardening Stimulus Plan, which was announced earlier this year. This plan, titled GrowFL, is now taking root ... and Metro Orlando is leading the way.
Funded by the Florida Legislature for a one-year trial period, the GrowFL program will be based at the University of Central Florida's new Florida Economic Gardening Institute (FEGI). Designed to serve as a statewide resource center for established Florida companies with 10 to 50 employees, the program will help qualified companies within this size range expand and create additional jobs. Already up and running, the GrowFL Center provides free businesses consulting and access to proven tools purchased for this purpose.
For companies within Metro Orlando who want to apply for technical assistance, the Metro Orlando EDC serves as the single point of contact. The EDC team is already working to identify companies that qualify and to lead them through the assessment process. Our effort serves as the pilot for what we expect will be a statewide network of regional organizations serving as local facilitators for the GrowFL program.
Recognizing that direct assistance programs such as this are a key to economic recovery, the EDC is working closely with our counterparts statewide to encourage Legislative support for the continuation of this program beyond its first year pilot status. We are also encouraging expansion of the definition of a qualified company to include companies with 50 to 100 employees, which would be consistent with the successful economic gardening program in Littleton, Colorado.
Two local companies are already on the verge of being selected for full assistance through GrowFL, and we expect between 30 to 50 additional local companies to receive some level of assistance this year. Ultimately, with the right nurturing, one of these "stage 2" companies could become this region's next Lockheed Martin or Darden Restaurants or HD Supply, which, we all know, bloomed from much more humble roots in our community.
To apply, visit www.GrowFL.com.
